Academics

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Commelinaceae

This family is named after the Commelin brothers, famous eighteenth century French botanist brothers. The story goes that two of the brothers accomplished much, while the third did not, which is why the family was named after them. Two of the three flower petals are large while the third is smaller, in some genera. The family tends to be viney and tropical, although there are plenty of temperate representatives, several present in our own flora.

Vining purple pigmented (anthocyanin) plant. The pink-purple flowers are produced in winter and spring. The stamen hairs are useful for cyclosis studies. Also, interesting pubescence. Easy to root.

Ideal plant for many biology labs and experiments. Easy to root.

A small white flowered hanging vine with anthocyanin on leaf undersides, again for light recycling. Easy to root.

Cyperaceae

This is the sedge family, similar in appearance to grasses, but generally coarser, with serrated edges(sedges have edges) and spreading inflorescences. Many sedges are associated with water or damp soil. The famous papyrus (Cyperus papyrus) is a member of this family.

A large tropical sedge which flowers yearly. Good for propagation from "umbrellas" Although not the famed papyrus, paper has been made from its stems. A native of Africa.

Liliaceae

This is one of the medicinal aloes. It is a leaf succulent. Some species are just a few centimeters across, others are large and tree-like. All aloes are native to Africa, but a few have been naturalized in the American Southwest. A wonderful outdoor collection in our area is at Boyce Thompson Arbotetum in Superior, Arizona. BTA would also make a terrific fieldtrip location and they even have a nice picnic area. The arboretum charges an entry fee and is located about 6 hours southwest of here, about two hours northeast of Phoenix. Excellent in early Spring.

Reliable bloomer for class use. New plants produced on old bloom stalks and as offsets from old plants. Very easy to propagate.

Another leaf succulent from South Africa. The leaves have an interesting mottling. The red, tubular flowers are produced once or twice a year.

One of the most popular houseplants. Can take a lot of abuse and neglect. Easy to grow in shady locations. Will flower reliably with more sunlight. Many hundreds of varieties have been produced in Europe. A native of South Africa.

Interesting small lily with green and silvery mottled leaves. Leaf undersides are dark red. (that light recycling again!) Multiplies rapidly and produces racemes of white flowers in Spring.

Musaceae

The Musaceae is the banana family, which includes several species of edible bananas, but also many other colorful species as well as many semi-aquatic species.

The economically important banana probably had its origin in se Asia and boasts hundreds of cultivars, many quite distinct in form and flavor. The banana fruit is parthenocarpic, which means that it develops without pollination or fertilization. The plant reproduces only vegetatively. Early in the domestication process, parthenocarpic cultivars were encouraged probably because they provided more fruit and none of the large, black, hard-as-a-rock seeds, which could easily break a tooth! The banana fruit is also a climacteric fruit. It must be picked in order to release ethylene gas, which properly ripens the fruit. In fact, banana fruits will also help and hasten ripening of other fruits. The enzymatic ripening process triggered by ethylene converts starch in the fruit to sugar, alcohols and ketones. Isoamyl acetate is the ketone responsible for the major portion of the banana flavor. Unripe bananas and plantains are a food staple in tropical regions, particularly Latin America, where they are fried in peanut oil or baked for use like potatoes with a meal. Thin slices of bananas or plantains are fried crisply for a snack and are available in neighborhoods with Caribbean Latin origin populations, such as Cuban neighborhoods in Miami. Bananas are one of the most widely cultivated plant.

Orchidaceae

The orchid family is the largest plant family in the world, in terms of species. Various estimates of its size are from 20,000 to 40,000 species, with a conservative estimate of about 30,000. It is still rapidly evolving but also losing species due to habitat destruction. The major centers of distribution are northern South America, Mexico, se Asia and Africa. However, almost every life zone or habitat has some species of orchids, including high mountains and desert streams and dunes. The only continent without orchids is Antarctica. The diversity and mimicry within this family is absolutely astounding. Although orchids are commercially valuable as horticultural plants, the vining orchid Vanilla planifolia is cultivated for its fruits and seeds, the source of vanilla. Originally cultivated by the Olmecs and Mayans in lowland Mexico over five thousand years ago, it was traded and established by many other New World populations. Vanillas grow wild as far north as south Florida. In our area, we have as many as thirty-one species of orchids.

Epiphytic species from western Mexico. Nice fragrance,

Similar to the Tampa butterfly orchid. It is native to Mexico. Blooms in summer.

These orchid hybrids are white or white with pick spots or stripes. They are long-term bloomers (sometimes several months!) in low light. The species normally grow overhanging rain forest streams in se Asia.

Poaceae

The grass family is also a large family, with about 15-20,000 species. It is widespread, probably covering more land area than any other family. The grass family is the most important economically and includes wheat, corn, rice, barley, oats, sugarcane and bamboo. The Aztecs, Mayans and Incas cultivated many types of corn, some with kernels as large as a quarter, others tiny and soft. Over 3000 cultivars of corn may have been grown by Native Americans before the Spanish Conquest.

This clumping bamboo from se Asia grows to about 30 feet in height. Some bamboos are the fastest growing plants, lengthening as much as 30 inches a day. Others are very hardy and may endure temperatures as low as -20oF. Bamboos are a major building and food plant in se Asia.

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